Beverly A. Browne

Conceptualizing self‐monitoring: links to materialism and product involvement

The relationship of self‐monitoring to buying behavior and to the consumer’s value system is controversial and not well understood. The study examined the relationship between self‐monitoring, materialism, and involvement with clothing and brands among a sample of 387 young adults. Constructs were measured with Snyder’s Self‐Monitoring Scale, the Material Values Scale, the Consumer Involvement Profile, and a scale measuring market alienation. Self‐monitoring was positively related to materialism, to clothing involvement, and to interest in marketplace events and brands. Discusses implications for the meaning of self‐monitoring and the use of personality in explaining consumption behavior. Suggests implications for marketing strategy.

Predictors of lottery gambling among American college students.

In this study lottery gambling behavior of 288 American college students was examined. Although most students were infrequent gamblers, we found that student lottery gambling was related to having parents and friends who were lottery gamblers. Students who were frequent lottery gamblers were more likely to participate in other forms of gambling and to have begun gambling at younger ages than less frequent gamblers. Locus of control was related to more frequent gambling among parents and only marginally related to more frequent lottery play among students. Discriminant analysis using parental gambling, peer gambling, games played, sex, and locus of control could predict frequency of lottery playing for 72% of gamblers and nongamblers.

Gender and Preferences for Job Attributes: A Cross Cultural Comparison

This study examined attitudes toward work and worker compensation among American (n = 201) and Australian (n = 177) business students. Although country-related differences were found, the data did not support the presumption that men and women differ in preferences for job attributes or work-related attitudes that might influence career progression. Expectations for salary were not related to gender or to work experience. In contrast to a self-selection theory of attitude and occupational choice, similarities between men and women were apparent before career entry and not related to prior employment. Observed differences in work attitudes between countries appeared to reflect the greater emphasis placed on achievement through work by Americans.

Reasoning in a Jury Trial: The Influence of Instructions

Abstract The influence of timing and frequency of instructions on the reasoning of jurors in a simulated grand larceny trial was investigated. Mock jurors were given definitions of grand larceny before and after the testimony, only before, only after, or not at all. Although timing of instructions was not significantly related to reasoning or to verdicts, frequency of instructions influenced the aspects of testimony deemed relevant and increased juror use of legal rules in making verdicts. Selective encoding of testimony could not account for the instruction effect.

Gender and Beliefs About Work Force Discrimination in the United States and Australia

Beliefs about gender discrimination in the work force were investigated among a sample of American (n = 201) and Australian (n = 177) business students. Significant differences between genders in beliefs about the existence of gender discrimination were indicated, with women being more likely than men to affirm its existence, particularly in the area of salary discrimination. In addition, there were differences between genders and between countries in assessment of the factors that might lead to lower participation of women in management and in the assessment of avenues of advancement for women.

Predicting Employment in Education: The Relative Efficiency of National Teacher Examinations Scores and Student Teacher Ratings

Multiple regression techniques were used to analyze the relative contribution of scores on the National Teacher Examinations, area examination for elementary school teachers, and of teacher supervisor ratings in predicting employment in elementary school teaching. Correlations between the independent variables and success in obtaining or not obtaining a job were computed for Ill students from five state and private universities. Although moderate correlations were found between area examination scores and supervisor ratings of student teaching performance, the rating was a more valid predictor of employment (R = .34, R2 = .12, p < .05) than was the examination score.

Self-Monitoring and Image Appeals in Advertising

Two studies with samples of young adults (n = 130 and n = 168) were conducted to examine the effect of self-monitoring and susceptibility to interpersonal influence on preferences for image-oriented advertising. Although subjects scoring high on self-monitoring did tend to seek advertising information more than subjects scoring low on self-monitoring, the results generally did not support a relationship between self-monitoring with increased liking image-oriented advertisements. Relationships between susceptibility to interpersonal influence, self-monitoring, and preferences for image-oriented advertising were not consistent; however, women were more likely than men to prefer image-oriented advertising and were also more susceptible to interpersonal influence.

Perceived clothing deprivation : further evidence

The purpose of this study was to extend the conceptualization of perceived clothing deprivation among three groups of adolescents: 161 skateboarders, 61 baseball players, and 336 general high school students. Perceived clothing deprivation, the dependent variable, was measured by two previously developed scales, Inability to Buy and Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Regression analysis of self-reported economic stress indicated that the combination of lower income and increased demand was positively related to both clothing deprivation factors. Group membership was not significantly associated with Inability to Buy but was with Clothing Deprivation Relative to Peers. Both male sports groups reported greater perceived dissatisfaction than the general population of high school students. These results support the idea that perceived clothing deprivation is self-defined and peer-dependent among adolescents and support the proposition that clothing deprivation reflects primarily influence of dynamic rather than stable variables.

Effects of Vocabulary Difficulty and Text Length on Word Definition and Prose Recall

Abstract The effects of vocabulary and text length on the readers ability to infer the meanings of words from their context and to recall factual content were examined. Adult subjects (N = 136) read easy- or difficult-vocabulary versions of connected prose on unfamiliar topics. Both easy and difficult passages were varied in length by the deletion of low level propositions. Readers provided fewer correct English synonyms for two-syllable nonwords when passages contained difficult vocabulary; there was no main effect of text length and no interaction. Fact recall tended to be reduced when difficult vocabulary passages were shortened by removal of propositions, however. Results are discussed in terms of differences in task demands.

Portrayals of Children to Children in Two Countries

Although research in the United States has linked children’s television viewing to beliefs about the self and acceptance of stereotyped roles, there is relatively little cross cultural research on gender stereotypes directed toward children. This study used content analysis of television commercials to investigate the incidence of gender stereotyping in commercials on children’s programs in the United States and Australia. One hundred and fifty Australian and 148 American commercials, videotaped during Saturday morning cartoon programs, were examined. Advertisements were coded for a variety of product and commercial characteristics including the gender typing of the product, the genders of the primary characters and voice overs, the roles played by boys and girls, and the themes of the advertisements. Aggression, activity, loudness, and frequency of scene change were rated on a scale of 1 (low) to 7 (high).